A Cambridge Square-like project with retail shops, offices, housing and green space is eyed for a Broad Street tract located close to the planned Chattanooga Lookouts ballpark.
“It will be a little bit of residential and a lot of retail and some office space as well,” said Chattanooga developer Claudia Pullen about the proposed $60 million project. “I’m planning something like Cambridge Square, but urbanized.”
Pullen said in a phone interview that she paid $6.6 million for a nearly 5-acre tract at Broad and West 33rd streets, across from the WDEF building.
The vacant tract is adjacent to a sprawling apartment project under construction called Borough 33. Pullen said she plans to call her development Station 33.
Cambridge Square, a mixed-use project in Ooltewah on a much larger site, started more than a decade ago as builders envisioned what they termed an eat, work and play development. The location, which was designed to also serve as a town center for Ooltewah, has blossomed as growth in that part of Hamilton County surged.
Pullen, whose husband Billy operates Veterinary Care & Specialty Group on Broad Street near the Station 33 parcel, said she doesn’t want what’s built on her land to look like a strip center.
“I want to make it very friendly,” she said. “I want it to be cozy and attractive for families.”
Ann Weeks, president-emeritus of the nonprofit South Broad Redevelopment Group, said she likes the look of the specialty and emergency veterinary building that was raised about three years ago.
“Based on the animal hospital, they seemed to do it right,” she said. “They were trying to do appropriate development for the site.”
Pullen said plans are to take the next 10 to 12 months designing Station 33 and obtaining permits.
Rendering by Franklin Architects / A site plan shows a proposed Cambridge Square-type development at Broad and West 33rd streets. The project is to hold retail shops, offices, housing and green space, the developer said.“We’ll be careful with the anchor tenants,” she said. “We’ll be working on getting one or two anchor tenants and a designed based around that idea.”
Pullen said Franklin Architects has worked up “a very early” layout of the tract, but she still wants to have more green space. Commercial and office space may go on Broad and 33rd streets along with retail in the center with green space. Townhomes would sit on Williams Street, she said.
Also, Pullen said she has met with the Chattanooga Design Studio, and consultant Rob Taylor is part of the project team.
She said she hoped work could start in fall 2024 or spring 2025.
“I’ve dreamed about this a lot,” the developer said. “Now I’ll put them into reality.”
Pullen already is working on a nearby mixed-use development in St. Elmo. That proposal to build a mix of shops, residences, offices, a boutique hotel and parking was unveiled in 2018 but was slowed by the pandemic. That project would be spread over 3 to 4 acres in St. Elmo’s commercial district.
Pullen also cited the planned Lookouts stadium that’s slated to go up not far away on the old U.S. Pipe/Wheland Foundry property on the other side of Broad Street.
“That will be a catalyst,” she said.
Lookouts and city officials have expressed a desire for the Minor League Baseball team to start its spring 2025 season in the planned stadium.
Plans are to issue up to $80 million in bonds to fund construction of the multiuse facility. The city and Hamilton County approved creation of a special tax district around the planned stadium. Most of the new property tax revenue from the special district, Lookouts’ lease payments, sales taxes, parking revenues and $1.4 million each from the city and county will pay for debt service on 30-year bonds to be issued for the project, officials have said.
City and county officials have said they initially expect $350 million in new development in the tax district over the 30-year period, but Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has indicated that $1 billion or more is anticipated.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.